Hearts Move Eight Points Ahead in Front at the Summit After Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at their home ground, with it being far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Key Moments in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before firing a powerful effort past the stationary the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland slotted home. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
Supporters began celebrating after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to panic when trying to deal with a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, skipper McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney cutback for 1-1.
Stubborn Defence
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the game concluded. “We shall not be moved” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Complete analysis coming soon.
